Politics is a divisive topic for some people. Normally I steer clear of it in my dealings with clients and readers. Great Green Content is focused on promoting sustainable practices in business, which protect the planet while generating profits. It’s a win-win for everyone.

America is already great. Not perfect – but great!

…about the most important election I’ve seen

However, 2016 is a year in which it would be irresponsible for me to say nothing about the election. I am a citizen who cherishes the right to vote. I am also the mother of an 18-year-old daughter who will be voting this year for the first time. This campaign season, I thought I’d be talking with my daughter about where the candidates stood on various issues, and how she might evaluate them in choosing which candidate is best for the country.

… on behalf of me, my daughter and everyone I know

Ha! That never happened. Early this spring, after listening to Mr. Trump on TV, she kiddingly informed me that she would move to London, England if he won. He was – and is – that utterly appalling. And he has only doubled-down on his appallingness since then.

I’m with her

I will simply share that I have happily voted for Hillary in this election, and I hope you will too. While her support for sustainable business certainly aligns with mine, it’s not the most important reason for my choice. Nor is it just because she’s an extraordinarily qualified woman who I think will do this country proud.

… because words matter

Mr. Trump is not a “normal” Republican candidate. He is not a “normal” human being (narcissistic sociopath come to mind, but I digress.) He strikes me as a clear and present danger to democracy and all that is good and decent about our country. And I cannot remain silent and “hope for the best” in this election.

…and silence might be seen as acceptance

Edmund Burke wrote: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” This is my Edmund Burke moment. America has seen leaders of the Trump variety emerge in other times and places – with devastating consequences. I will not allow the country I love to follow that path without a fight.

Please join me in voting for Hillary in this historic election. It’s that important.

Wow – the long silence on my blog is exactly what I tell clients not to do, and it’s officially over. You may know that old saying, “the cobblers children have no shoes.” In this case, the professional writer has had no posts, but you may be interested to know why.

Enjoying Portland’s fall colors!

Big changes, but just the beginning

In the last 4 months, I have moved my family and my business from Florida to the West coast – Portland, Oregon to be exact. We packed off our one-and-only, best-possible-daughter to college. And I’ve begun to get to know the vibrant green business community that exists in my new home city.

Yes, while you may think of Portland as the land of beer and coffee (both true!), it is also something of a “green Grand Central” in terms of green living, green business and green government policies. And it’s this latter fact that calls to me.

Climate change – the issue that “will-not-be-named”

In the 3 Presidential debates that (thankfully) just ended, not a single question was asked about climate change (CC). Yet 2016 is a year that, according to experts, will once again be the hottest on record. The 2016 hurricane season is not done, yet we’ve already seen hundreds of Haitians die and millions of Americans in the Southeast evacuate due to Hurricane Matthew.

Portlanders “get” that climate change is real, and they are doing something about it. I like being part of that.

Doing my small part – with you!

The disconnect between what needs to happen to address climate change and what is actually happening continues to amaze me. There is a speed and scale of action that needs to ramp up now, and the good news is, you can help!

Know that sustainability means profitability. The idea that sustainable choices always cost more than they return is hopelessly outdated. Most companies are too busy to know that, for example, (1) the price of solar panels has fallen 80% in the last 5 years or that (2) relatively small changes – like swapping out incandescent lights for LEDs that cost one-tenth of the old bulbs – can drop money to the bottom line immediately. The “clean trillion” is a term first coined by Ceres.org. It quantifies just how big the opportunities for green business are. You can do your part to stop climate change and profit quite nicely at the same time.

Tell your story of green success – or challenges. The lackof awareness around climate change – not to mention the misinformation out there – can be remedied by telling your real-life stories of adopting more sustainable business practices. The more stories, the better. Even not-so-successful attempts help other businesses to properly assess their opportunities. Not sure what to say? I can help!

Keep learning. New products and services that make it increasingly easy and cost-effective for businesses to “go green” launch every day. From “smart buildings” to new transportation options, the world around us is being “disrupted” (to use an overused word) on all sides. Staying abreast of all this is a challenge, but also an opportunity to find the green options that best suit your business.

Helping you bridge the gap – with content

So while I am enjoying fall colors again for the first time in 16 years, I am also looking forward to helping YOU share your green successes – and challenges – through web content, blog posts, or case studies. Whether your organization is conserving water or designing a LEED Platinum office building, it’s important to get the word out to your customers, suppliers and communities.

Portland is also “bridge city.”

This month, I celebrate 5 years with Great Green Content, helping companies share their stories of sustainable success. What green business story can I help YOU share?

Earlier this week I spoke at Eckerd College on the topic of “Starting a Green Business.” I was thrilled to be invited. As I head into my 5th year as a content writer for green businesses (and a certified green business myself!), I have far more to share with the students than before. And the truth is, I came away feeling wonderfully optimistic about the future of green business. Here’s why:

Eckerd College teaches students how to launch green businesses.

Green business is part of the curriculum. I give a big shout out to Eckerd College and Professor Laura Singleton for teaching the course. It’s an intensive class to help students learn about, articulate and actually pitch a green business plan within one month. I like the fact that the class has such a practical, actionable focus. Green business is not some airy-fairy, far-away dream. It’s here now and we need more people like these students jumping in to the pool.

There were no slackers in this crowd. Far from tapping away on their smartphones while I spoke, these students were engaged. I was bombarded with questions ranging from “How do you handle greenwashing?” to “Why do you think the government in Florida bans people from talking about climate change?” to “You say your hybrid car is a good thing, but what are we going to do about those toxic batteries?” These are thoughtful, informed questions that say good things about the students asking them.

These students GET climate change. They know that climate change is real, and they know that they will likely bear the brunt of it. Not one student asked, “But isn’t climate change a hoax?” Not one student asked, “But won’t addressing climate change destroy our economy?” It’s a given. These students give me hope.

Green business means big bucks. I shared with the class a recent article from The Guardian listing the 9 companies that currently make $1 billion a year or more with sustainable products. That’s “billion” with a “b.” Target is the tenth company that will join this ranking. While my green business is small, there will be a need for green businesses of every size and shape. That’s exciting for people looking for a place in a new, green economy.

My New Year’s gift to you. Interested in exploring your own green business ideas? After class, I emailed Professor Singleton a list of 10 sources of information on green business to share with her students. This list barely scratches the surface, but it’s a good place to start:

WeMeanBusinessCoalition.org – this came out of the Paris Climate Talks. Mike Bloomberg (of Bloomberg Business Week) is one of the business people who has gotten involved in the green economy in a big way.

Ceres.org – while this is a nonprofit, they work mostly with for profit-businesses to help them understand and adopt more sustainable business practices.

As I told the class, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Whether you are looking for ideas for a green business to start, a green job to train for, or a green company to work for there is plenty of opportunity. Be bold – don’t wait – you can do this!

I am a regular Starbucks customer. I go almost every day, in spite of the financial monster in my head who screams, “$3.70 for coffee??? You could retire earlier if you SAVED that money!” Which is true. Except that I can’t count on reaching retirement. So I have my “fancy” cuppa joe each morning before work because it makes me happy, in that moment, every day.

THIS morning when I arrived, the barista handed me a grande version of my usual drink – café mocha, non-fat, no whip, 2 pumps. With a hand-written note on it that said, “Just because we love you, Alison!” And then they told me it was on the house. On a Monday morning, that made my day, week and month.

Now I know that a company is not a person. (Really – Justice Roberts, it’s not.) But Starbucks is a company that I choose to emulate in my own little, one-person shop. Not around coffee (I’m no expert) but in the WAY they do business and the WAY they treat their customers.

What do I mean? Let me count the ways.

The baristas know me and I know them. I am thankful for their name tags because I am terrible with names initially, but once I remember I ALWAYS remember. And it’s cheerful to walk in and say, “Hi Ericka/Mitch/Brooklyn” to whoever happens to be across the counter.

They are unfailingly friendly and polite. I know that’s part of their job, but at my Starbucks, they do it really well. In this time where simple courtesy and respect seem to be in short supply, I appreciate the fact that they DON’T let it all hang out. I know they’re being nice to me, and I am nice to them back. I like nice.

Their support of education with programs like the full tuition reimbursement for Bachelor degrees through Arizona State shows their recognition, not only of the importance of education, but also of the fact that it’s something their employees want. So many companies trim back benefits every year. To see such an important one added is refreshing!

“Nice” can make for smart business

The main thing that I admire about Starbucks is that they’ve made me want to start my day with them. And that feeling of anticipation and happiness is something I want to create for my own clients. I want my interactions – whether in person, on the phone, over email or Skype – to be the best part of their day. Even if we’re talking about something relatively unimportant in the overall scheme of things, I want to make you feel like I’m happy to see you, that I’m glad I can help, and that you are in good hands.

That may seem odd, given that we live in the “paradise” of Tampa, Florida. You know – endless sunshine, white sandy beaches, palm trees. Portland has none of that.

But we had heard good things about Portland’s commitment to being a “green city“, so we decided to check it out.

Portland really IS green

Portland is routinely named the “greenest city in America.” In 2015, it’s #1 on Travel and Leisure’s list. What struck me was:

Lots of trees and parks. There’s no “concrete canyon” feel here. Portland has managed to keep a LOT of trees and parks in the heart of the city.

Portland has lots of trees in the city.

Great public transit. It’s easy to get around. The transit system – which includes the MAX light rail plus street cars and buses – is clean, cheap and frequent. It’s also growing, with a new line opening in September. When your house has a walk score of 0, being able to walk out the door for a block and (1) stop at a coffee shop or (2) hop on public transit is a miracle.

Signs of eco-consciousness everywhere. From the many bike riders (who can easily bring their bikes onto public transit), to the solar trash compacters on every block, to the ubiquitous recycling bins, it’s easy to be green in Portland.

That’s all anecdotal, of course, but the statistics and rankings back up my impression.

The Clean Edge guys are my “go-to” researchers for all things happening in “clean tech.” Earlier this month, they released their annual Clean Tech Leadership Index, rating all 50 states and the 50 largest metro areas on their “clean tech” activities.

According to Clean Edge, “OREGONretained its #3 rank for the third straight year, but enjoyed the highest score increase of any top 10 state, up to 72 points from 67 last year when it barely edged out Colorado. Oregon trails only California in the Technology category, with perennial strength in hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, charging infrastructure, and green buildings. ”

Clean Edge also says, “Portland places #3 for the third time in four years. The Rose City leads all metros in Clean Electricity & Carbon Management, thanks to strong hydroelectric power resources, low carbon emissions from large facilities, and a strong commitment to climate protection and reporting. Portland also ranks #3 in the Green Buildings category.”

Portlanders also know how to have fun

Lest you think Portlanders spend all their free time composting their food scraps, the city offers a great many “attractions,” including:

Craft Beer – There’s a “craft beer festival” in July, and more breweries than you can shake a stick at.

Coffee – I visited the biggest Starbucks I have ever seen, and also sipped coffee at Peet’s and Stumptown. There are dozens of other independent coffee houses.

Restaurants – Thai, Chinese, Morrocan, French, seafood, pizza, and “new American” were just some of the choices.

Books – Public libraries and Powell’s books make this a book lover’s haven.

Education – Portland State is minutes from the center of town.

Parks – There are over 10,000 acres of parks in the city. We spent time in Washington Park, which is 400 acres with 15 miles of trails.

Waterfront – Portland sits on the Willamette River, and the variety of bridges crossing over to Washington state was astounding.

Portland’s economy is growing

According to Google, Portland’s unemployment rate was 4.4% in April 2015. Like most parts of the country, job growth is stronger than it’s been in years. That strength comes from:

Silicon Forest – which houses everything from IBM and HP to Microsoft and Intel. It’s an impressive concentration of tech companies employing upwards of 60,000 people.

Portland green businesses – which tend to be smaller, but are impactful in their own ways. From organic restaurants to environmental consulting firms to engineers and architects, these organizations help bring that “eco-friendly” feel to the city every day.

Yesterday, I ordered my Tzoa – a new, wearable device that measures air pollution as I go about my day. I’m really excited, even though I have to wait a yearto get it.

A Tzoa is a wearable device that measures air pollution.

“What’s that?” you say. “That doesn’t sound cool at all! That’s no Apple Watch, no Surface Pro, no Facebook app.” Surely, I have lost my mind. Or not.

Actually, I’d love for you to join me in supporting Tzoa’s Indiegogo campaign that kicked off yesterday. And no, I am not being paid to say that.

Here’s why I signed up:

A Tzoa creates and shares clean air data that is currently unavailable. The Tzoa accurately senses air pollution and shares that information with everyone. The data from everyone who wears a Tzoa gets uploaded to the cloud, and crunched into things like maps, recommendations for where to avoid the pollen, and where the least polluted bike route is. The data will be available on your smartphone. As a data geek, it’s like seeing a whole new sandbox created. Happiness!

It’s easy. As a veteran Fitbit One wearer, I know that wearing the Tzoa will be no big deal. As a matter of fact, I expect it may be a conversation starter. “Gee, what’s that shiny, sleek thing clipped to your arm/jacket/purse strap?” they’ll ask.

I really want to know. When I started my business, I was happy (and, if I’m honest, a little smug) to work in a home office. Then, I learned that indoor air can be more polluted than outdoor air! I am genuinely interested to find out what the Tzoa will tell me, and adjust my work environment if necessary.

I support businesses like Tzoa that are actively reinventing our economy and our lives with regards to climate and the environment. Through Indiegogo, you can chip in as little as $5 to make this product come to market.

Tzoa lets me be part of the action. The Tzoa is small enough, and accurate enough to create whole new sets of air pollution data. Everyone from government agencies to fellow citizens can use it. I’ve long liked the idea of being a “citizen scientist,” and Tzoa lets me be one!

Wouldn’t YOU like to know how clean the air around you is – both indoors and out? I would. And to feel the satisfaction of sharing that data – effortlessly – with people around the world?